Device for generating printing information and method for generating printing information

ABSTRACT

Provided are a device and a method of generating printing information. The method includes acquiring at least one image part by splitting a basic image acquired based on a user input; determining a target article corresponding to the basic image from a three-dimensional (3D) article list stored in a database (DB) by using the at least one image part; providing a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of editing a shape of the target article according to a user input; and editing the shape of the target article, based on a user input via the GUI, and generating printing information used to 3D print the edited target article.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national phase of International ApplicationNo. PCT/KR2016/001483 filed Feb. 15, 2016 which designated the U.S. andclaims priority to KR Patent Application No. 10-2015-0024239 filed Feb.17, 2015, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods of generatingprinting information, and more particularly, to a device and method ofgenerating printing information for three-dimensional (3D) printing.

BACKGROUND ART

With developments in multimedia technology and data processingtechnology, device are able to process various types of information. Inparticular, devices that generate and process three-dimensional (3D)printing information is being used with developments of 3D printers.However, it is difficult to clarify a 3D shape desired by a user.

Thus, a method for clarifying a 3D shape desired by a user andgenerating printing information for 3D printing is in demand.

SUMMARY

Provided are devices and methods of generating three-dimensional (3D)printing information of a 3D shape desired by a user.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of generatingprinting information includes acquiring at least one image part bysplitting a basic image acquired based on a user input; determining atarget article corresponding to the basic image from a three-dimensional(3D) article list stored in a database (DB) by using the at least oneimage part; providing a graphical user interface (GUI) capable ofediting a shape of the target article according to a user input; andediting the shape of the target article, based on a user input via theGUI, and generating printing information used to 3D print the editedtarget article.

Provided methods of generating three-dimensional (3D) printinginformation of a 3D shape desired by a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments receives a user input and generates printing information;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method in which a device according to someembodiments generates 3D printing information;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments acquires an image;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments acquires an image from a server;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example in which a device according to someembodiments determines a target article;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments searches for a target article by using a partial image;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method in which a device according to someembodiments provides a graphical user interface (GUI);

FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments searches for component articles;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments provides a description of a constituent article;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments displays an image of an edited target article;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments determines a target article by selecting a plurality ofconstituent articles;

FIG. 12 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments displays information about locations of joins betweenconstituent articles;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments recommends a constituent article according to standards;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method in which a device according to someembodiments displays information about stability of a target article;

FIG. 15 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments provides an assembling method;

FIG. 16 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments provides an assembling method;

FIG. 17A illustrates an example in which a device 100 according to someembodiments provides information about the stability of a targetarticle;

FIG. 17B illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments provides information about the stability of a targetarticle;

FIG. 18 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments provides options for a target article;

FIG. 19 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments provides information about joins between constituentarticles;

FIG. 20 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments provides information about constituent articles;

FIG. 21 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments provides a method of assembling constituent articles;

FIG. 22 illustrates an example in which a device according to someembodiments provides information about operations of constituentarticles that constitute a target article; and

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a device according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of generatingprinting information includes acquiring at least one image part bysplitting a basic image acquired based on a user input; determining atarget article corresponding to the basic image from a three-dimensional(3D) article list stored in a database (DB) by using the at least oneimage part; providing a graphical user interface (GUI) capable ofediting a shape of the target article according to a user input; andediting the shape of the target article, based on a user input via theGUI, and generating printing information used to 3D print the editedtarget article.

The providing of the GUI may include providing a recommendation list ofconstituent articles that are compatible with a constituent articleincluded in the target article.

The providing of the recommendation list may include providing therecommendation list of the compatible constituent articles, based onstability of a target article edited by a constituent article includedin the recommendation list.

The stability may be determined based on at least one of a location ofthe center of gravity of the target article edited by the constituentarticle included in the recommendation list and an internal structure ofthe edited target article.

The providing of the recommendation list may include providing therecommendation list of the compatible constituent articles, based onprices of the compatible constituent articles.

The providing of the recommendation list may include providing therecommendation list of the compatible constituent articles, based onsizes of the compatible constituent articles.

The providing of the recommendation list may include providing therecommendation list of the compatible constituent articles, based on aconnection relationship between the target article and the constituentarticle included in the target article.

The generating of the printing information may further includegenerating manual information representing a method of assembling theedited target article.

The generating of the printing information may further include providingthe manual information in at least one of a text form and an animationform.

The providing of the GUI may include providing an image representing anoperation of a constituent article included in the target articleaccording to a function of the target article.

The DB may store a connection relationship between the target articleand a constituent article included in the target article.

The DB may store weight information of the constituent article includedin the target article.

The DB may store information about at least one of a direction and arange in which the constituent article included in the target articlemoves according to a function of the target article.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a device forgenerating printing information includes an input unit configured toreceive a user input; a DB configured to store a 3D article list; and acontroller configured to acquire at least one image part by splitting abasic image acquired based on an input received via the input unit, todetermine a target article corresponding to the basic image from a 3Darticle list stored in the DB by using the at least one image part, toprovide a GUI capable of editing a shape of the target article accordingto a input received via the input unit, and to edit the shape of thetarget article, based on a user input via the GUI, and generate printinginformation used to 3D print the edited target article.

The device may further include a display configured to display at leastone of the basic image, the target article, the edited target article,and the GUI.

The controller may provide a recommendation list of constituent articlesthat are compatible with a constituent article included in the targetarticle.

The controller may provide a recommendation list of the compatibleconstituent articles, based on stability of the target article.

The controller may provide the recommendation list of the compatibleconstituent articles, based on sizes of the compatible constituentarticles.

The controller may generate manual information representing a method ofassembling the edited target article.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium has recorded thereon a program forexecuting the above-described method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail herein withreference to the accompanying drawings so that this disclosure may beeasily performed by one of ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertain. The invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to thedescription are omitted for simplicity of explanation, and like numbersrefer to like elements throughout.

Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element, or can be electricallyconnected or coupled to the other element with intervening elementsinterposed therebetween. In addition, the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated elements, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements.

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of theinvention are shown.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which a device 100 according to someembodiments receives a user input and generates printing information.

As shown in FIG. 1, a printing information providing system according toan embodiment of the present invention may include the device 100, aserver 110, and a printer 120.

The device 100 may receive a user input. A user input according to anembodiment may be used to generate printing information. For example,the device 100 may acquire a basic image by using the user input andgenerate printing information by using the acquired basic image.

A basic image according to an embodiment is basically used to determinea target article. The basic image may be acquired according to a userinput for acquiring an image.

For example, the basic image may include an image that is acquired via asketch input. A sketch input according to an embodiment may denote aninput obtained by a user performing a sketch via a touch on a screenwhere a touch input is possible. A sketch input according to anotherembodiment may denote an input obtained by the device 100 recognizing asketching operation of a user.

As another example, the basic image may include an image acquired viaphotography according to a user input. For example, a desk imagecaptured according to a user input of performing photography may be abasic image.

As another example, the basic image may include an image downloaded froma server according to a user input. For example, a chair imagedownloaded from a server according to a user input may be a basic image.

The device 100 may acquire a 3D article list from the server 110. The 3Darticle list may include information about a plurality of 3D articles.The device 100 may determine a target article corresponding to the basicimage the 3D article list acquired from the server 110.

A target article according to an embodiment is an article that is to beedited. The target article may denote an article that is determined fromthe basic image based on similarity with the basic image from among the3D articles included in the 3D article list. For example, the targetarticle may denote an article corresponding to the basic image fromamong the 3D articles included in the 3D article list. As anotherexample, the device 100 may select a 3D article having a most similarshape to the basic image from among the 3D articles included in the 3Darticle list, and may determine the selected 3D article as the targetarticle. Whether the shape of the 3D article is similar to the basicimage may be determined according to a predetermined criterion. Asanother example, the device 100 may select, as the target article, a 3Darticle that is included in the 3D article list and is most frequentlyused from among 3D articles having similar shapes to the basic image. Afrequency of usage according to an embodiment may denote a frequency ofexposure to the Internet. Being similar in shape according to anembodiment may denote a case where a shape similarity is equal to orgreater than a predetermined reference when being determined accordingto a predetermined manner. For example, the device 100 may express asimilarity between the shape of the basic image and that of a 3D articleincluded in the 3D article list as a numeral between 0 and 100.

A target article according to another embodiment may denote an articlethat is selected based on a user input from among the 3D articlesincluded in the 3D article list.

The device 100 may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) capable ofediting the shape of the target article. The device 100 may edit theshape of the target article, based on an edition input which is a userinput via the provided GUI. The device 100 may generate printinginformation used to 3D print the edited target article. The printinginformation is used to perform printing. The printing information may begenerated by the device 100 and transmitted to the printer 120.According to an embodiment, the printer 120 may include a 3D printer.

According to an embodiment, the printer 120 may generate an editedtarget article 130 by using the printing information received from thedevice 100.

According to another embodiment, the printer 120 may generate the editedtarget article 130 by receiving printing information transmitted by thedevice 100 to the server 110 from the server 110.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may store the 3D articlelist. For example, the device 100 may acquire information about 3Darticles from the server 110 and store the acquired information. Theinformation about the 3D articles may include information related withthe 3D articles, such as images of the 3D articles and names of the 3Darticles.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may store informationabout the target article and information about connection relationshipsbetween the constituent articles included in the target article. Theconstituent articles may denote articles that constitute the targetarticle. For example, since a chair may be formed of a chair back, aseat, and legs, the chair, which is a target article, may be formed ofconstituent articles which are the chair back, the seat, and the legs.In this case, the device 100 may store information about a relationshipbetween the chair back and the seat and a relationship between the seatand the legs.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may store weightinformation of the constituent articles included in the target article.For example, the device 100 may store respective weights of theconstituent articles of the target article with preset accuracy. Thepreset accuracy may vary according to settings.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may store informationabout at least one of directions and ranges in which the constituentarticles included in the target article respectively move according tothe function of the target article. For example, the device 100 maystore information about a direction in which and an angle at which theback of the chair is tilt.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may store informationabout the constituent articles included in each of the 3D articlesstored in the device 100.

For example, the device 100 may index each of the constituent articles.In this case, the device 100 may store a result of the indexing.

As another example, the device 100 may store information about joinsbetween the constituent articles. According to an embodiment, when thetarget article is a chair, the device 100 may store information about ajoin between a chair back and a seat of the chair. The device 100 maydisplay the information about the joins. A method of displaying theinformation about the joins will be described later with reference toFIG. 12.

As another example, the device 100 may store information aboutoperations of the constituent articles included in the target article.The meaning of the information about the operations of the constituentarticles will be described later with reference to FIG. 22.

As another example, the device 100 may store information related with amethod of assembling the target article by using the constituentarticles. The information related with the assembling method will bedescribed later with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method in which the device 100 according tosome embodiments generates 3D printing information.

In operation S210, the device 100 may acquire a basic image. Accordingto an embodiment, the device 100 may acquire the basic image, based on auser input for acquiring an image.

For example, the device 100 may acquire the basic image via a user inputacquired by performing a sketch via a touch on a screen where a touchinput is possible. As another example, the device 100 may acquire thebasic image by recognizing a sketching operation of a user. As anotherexample, a desk image captured according to a user input of performingphotography may be a basic image. As another example, a chair imagedownloaded from a server according to a user input may be a basic image.In operation S220, the device 100 may determine a target article. Forexample, the device 100 may determine a target article corresponding tothe basic image acquired in operation S210 from the 3D article liststored in the device 100. The meaning of the target articlecorresponding to the basic image has already been described above withreference to FIG. 1.

The device 100 may use image parts when determining the target article.The image parts may mean a plurality of image parts into which an imageis split. For example, when the basic image is a chair image, a chairback image, a seat image, and a chair leg image into which a chair imageis split may be image parts for the basic image.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may use the image parts ofthe basic image when determining the target article corresponding to thebasic image from the 3D article list. For example, the device 100 maysplit the basic image into a plurality of image parts and an image ofeach of the 3D articles included in the 3D article list into a pluralityof image parts according to a predetermined criterion and compare theimage parts of the basic image with the image parts of each of the 3Darticles, thereby determining the target article corresponding to thebasic image. For example, when the device 100 acquires a first image anda second image by splitting the basic image, acquires a (1-1)th imageand a (1-2)th image by splitting a first 3D article, and acquires a(2-1)th image and a (2-2)th image by splitting a second 3D article, thedevice 100 may compare the first image with the (1-1)th image, thesecond image with the (1-2)th image, the first image with the (2-1)thimage, and the second image with the (2-2)th image and thus maydetermine the target article corresponding to the basic image from amongthe first 3D article and the second 3D article.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may provide a selectionmenu for selecting an image corresponding to the basic image from theimages of the 3D articles included in the 3D article list. For example,the device 100 may display a predetermined number of images that aresimilar to the basic image from among the images of the 3D articlesincluded in the 3D article list. Similarities between the images of the3D articles and the basic image may be determined according to apredetermined manner. For example, the device 100 may determinesimilarities between the images of the 3D articles and the basic image,by using the above-described image parts.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may receive a selection inputwith respect to one of the displayed images of the 3D articles anddetermine the selected 3D article image as an image of the targetarticle.

The basic image and the image of the target article may share similarfeatures.

In operation S230, the device 100 may provide a GUI capable of editingthe shape of the target article. According to an embodiment, the device100 may provide a GUI capable of editing the shape of the target articleaccording to a user input.

According to another embodiment, the GUI of the device 100 may providean edition menu for editing a specific part of the basic image. Theshape of the target article may be edited based on a user input via theGUI.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may provide arecommendation list of constituent articles that are compatible with theconstituent articles included in the target article. For example, whenthe target article is a chair, the device 100 may provide arecommendation list of a chair back which is a constituent articleincluded in the chair. In this case, a chair back from among a pluralityof displayed back chairs may be determined based on a user input. Forexample, a chair back image from among a plurality of displayed chairback images may be selected according to a selection input of a user.

The device 100 may provide the recommendation list according to apredetermined criterion. For example, the device 100 may provide therecommendation list of compatible constituent articles, based onstability of the target article edited by the constituent articlesincluded in the recommendation list. The target article edited by theconstituent articles included in the recommendation list may mean atarget article that has been edited to include one of the constituentarticles included in the recommendation list as a component of thetarget article. For example, when the target article is a chair, theedited target article may mean a chair of which legs are replaced withlegs included in the recommendation list.

Stability of an article according to an embodiment may mean a valuerepresenting a degree to which the shape or location of the article ismaintained without being deformed when an external force is applied tothe article.

When a constituent article included in the recommendation list is usedas a constituent article of the target article, stability of the targetarticle may be maintained to a predetermined reference or greater. Forexample when the device 100 provides a recommendation list for woodenlegs which are a constituent article of an office chair, which is atarget article, the device 100 may include only wooden legs of whichstability is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference whenbeing used in the office chair, which is the target article, in therecommendation list. Stability of the office chair edited by wooden legsincluded in the recommendation list may be maintained to a predeterminedreference or greater. The office chair edited by the wooden legsincluded in the recommendation list may mean an office chair including,as a constituent article, wooden legs included in the recommendationlist. Stability of an edited target article according to an embodimentmay be determined based on at least one of a location of the center ofgravity of the target article edited by a constituent article includedin a recommendation list and an internal structure of the targetarticle. For example, a height of the center of gravity of a desk editedby a chair back included in a recommendation list may serve as acriterion for determining the stability of the edited desk. As anotherexample, a structure of an edited desk, such as the area of the groundthat contacts the edited desk, or the number of spots where the editeddesk and the ground contact, may be used as a criterion for determiningthe stability of the edited desk.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may provide arecommendation list of compatible constituent articles, based on theprices of the compatible constituent articles. For example, when theconditions of constituent articles other than the price are the same,the device 100 may provide, as a recommendation list, constituentarticles of which prices are less than or equal to a predeterminedreference. As another example, the device 100 may include, in therecommendation list, constituent articles of which prices are less thanor equal to a predetermined reference or constituent articles of whichprices are equal to or greater than a predetermined reference, based ona user input.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may provide arecommendation list of compatible constituent articles, based on thesizes of the compatible constituent articles. For example, when thetarget article is a desk and a constituent article included therein is adrawer attached to the desk, the device 100 may include, in arecommendation list, only drawers of which sizes are compatible with thesize of the drawer of the desk which is the target article.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may provide arecommendation list of compatible constituent articles, based on aconnection relationship between the target article and each constituentarticle included in the target article. For example, the device 100 mayinclude only constituent articles connectable to the chair, which is thetarget article, in a recommendation list. Constituent articles unable tobe connected with the target article may be excluded from therecommendation list. For example, when the target article is a chair towhich only wooden legs are connectable, only wooden leg types may beincluded in the recommendation list of constituent articles.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may provide an imagerepresenting an operation of a constituent article included in thetarget article according to the function of the target article.

For example, the device 100 may provide an image representing an openingor closing operation of the drawer of a desk, which is a target article.As another example, the device 100 may provide an image representing atilting operation of the back of a chair, which is a target article.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may edit the shape of thetarget article, based on a user input via the GUI. For example, thedevice 100 may replace a constituent article included in the targetarticle, based on a user input. As another example, the device 100 maychange the color of the target article.

A detailed editing method will be described later with reference toFIGS. 7-17B.

In operation S240, the device 100 may generate the 3D printinginformation. According to an embodiment, the device 100 may edit theshape of the target article, based on a user input via the GUI providedin operation S230, and may generate printing information used to 3Dprint the edited target article.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may generate printinginformation used to 3D print the edited target article. A 3D printerconnected to the device 100 may 3D print the edited target article byusing the printing information acquired by the device 100. The device100 may generate printing information that is necessary for performing3D printing on the edited target article. The device 100 may transmitthe generated printing information to the 3D printer.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may generate manualinformation representing a method of assembling the edited targetarticle. For example, the device 100 may provide the manual informationin the form of at least one of a text and an animation.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments acquires an image.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may acquire a basic image,based on a touch input made on a screen of the device 100. For example,when a user makes a sketch on a screen on which a touch input ispossible, the device 100 may determine an image drawn via a receivedtouch input as the basic image. As another example, the device 100 maydetermine an image acquired via a sketch input as the basic image. Asketch input according to an embodiment may denote an input obtained bya user making a sketch via a touch on a screen where a touch input ispossible. A sketch input according to another embodiment may denote aninput obtained by the device 100 recognizing a sketching operation of auser.

The basic image may be a two-dimensional (2D) image or a 3D image. Forexample, the device 100 may recognize a sketch input of the user as a 3Dimage and acquire the 3D image as the basic image.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may acquire the basicimage via photography.

For example, when a specific area within a captured image is selected bythe user, the selected image area may be determined as the basic image.

As another example, when the same object is photographed at differentangles several times, a plurality of 3D images may be acquired from thephotographed object and may be determined as the basic image.

When the same object is photographed at different angles several times,the device 100 may provide a description of photographing directions.For example, the device 100 may provide a description that guidesphotography in 6 directions or a description that proposes panoramicphotography.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may determine a capturedimage as the basic image. For example, the device 100 may determine animage obtained by photographing a furniture image found from theInternet, as the basic image. As another example, the device 100 maydetermine a furniture image, which is a part of a captured image, as thebasic image.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may determine an imagedownloaded from the Internet, as the basic image. For example, thedevice 100 may download an image via a search from the Internet and mayuse the downloaded image as the basic image.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may edit the basicimage. For example, the basic image may be edited according to a userinput such as addition or deletion of a dot, a line, or a side, a changein the color of the basic image, or a change in the thickness of a line.According to an embodiment, the device 100 may provide an edition toolfor editing an image.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments acquires an image from a server.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may acquire an image from theserver. For example, the device 100 may provide images found using akeyword input by a user. One of the found and provided images may bedetermined as a basic image. A keyword according to an embodiment may bereceived according to categories. For example, a keyword input to asecond search box may be limited to a subordinate word of a keyword thatis input to a first search window. As another example, a keyword “desk”may be input to a first search box 410, a keyword “H-type desk”, whichis a type of desk, may be input to a second search box 420, and akeyword “hardwood desk”, which is a type of H-type desk, may be input toa third search box 430. In this case, the device 100 may provide aresult of a search for hardwood desks from among H-type desks. Forexample, the device 100 may acquire, from the server,frequently-searched images from among images of hardwood desks includedin an H-type desk, and display the frequently-searched images on thescreen of the device 100.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may acquire and display atleast one image of a target article corresponding to an input keyword.

According to an embodiment, a candidate image of the target article maydenote at least one image determined according to a user input. Forexample, the candidate image of the target article may include an imagethat is similar to the basic image by a predetermined reference orgreater from among images stored in the device 100. As another example,the candidate image of the target article may include a predeterminednumber of images from among images that satisfy conditions of keywordsinput by the device 100.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may determine one of thedisplayed candidate images of the target article as an image of thetarget article that is to be edited, based on a user selection. Thedevice 100 may provide a tool capable of editing the image of the targetarticle determined based on the user selection, and a detailed editingmethod will be described later with reference to FIGS. 7-17B.

The number of input keywords may be previously determined. For example,the device 100 may receive a keyword and provide a result associatedwith the received keyword, or receive a plurality of keywords andprovide a result associated with the received keywords.

The categories of input keywords may be previously determined. Forexample, when a keyword regarding furniture is input, the input keywordmay include at least one of a furniture name, a furniture type, afurniture material, and a thickness of a plywood that forms thefurniture.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may search for and acquire animage of a target article that satisfies the input keyword. The device100 may acquire, from the server, information about the target articlethat satisfies the input keyword.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may search for andacquire an image of a target article by using both a keyword and avoice. For example, the device 100 may recognize a voice of a user via auser input, and display a search result that satisfies a conditioncorresponding to the recognized voice of the user. The search result mayinclude candidate images of the target article.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may search for not onlythe target article but also the constituent articles included in thetarget article. For example, when the target article is a chair, thedevice 100 may search for a sitting mat that is not included in theconstituent articles of the chair.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example in which the device 100 according tosome embodiments determines a target article.

In operation S510, the device 100 may acquire a basic image. Sinceoperation S510 corresponds to the above-described operation S210, adetailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

In operation S520, the device 100 may acquire image parts by splittingthe basic image acquired in operation S510. Image parts according to anembodiment may mean a plurality of image parts into which the basicimage is split.

When the device 100 acquires the image parts by splitting the basicimage, a predetermined criterion may be used. A criterion used toacquire the image parts may be previously determined according to thetypes of article included in the basic image. For example, when anarticle included in the basic image is recognized as a chair, the chairmay be previously determined to be split into a chair back part, a seatpart, and a leg part. As another example, when the article included inthe basic image is a bed, the device 100 may acquire, as the imageparts, a mattress part and the other part into which a bed image issplit. As another example, the device 100 may acquire image parts foreach of constituent articles into which each article is splittable.

In operation S530, the device 100 may determine a target article from anarticle list by using at least one of the basic image acquired inoperation S510 and the image parts acquired in operation S520.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may determine an image thatis the most similar to the basic image from among the images stored inthe device 100, according to a predetermined manner.

For example, the device 100 may compare the image parts of the basicimage with the image parts of each of the images stored in the device100 and thus determine an image corresponding to the basic image fromamong the images stored in the device 100.

As another example, the device 100 may determine a target article havingthe most similar shape to that of an article included in the basicimage, from the 3D article list stored in the device 100, and provideinformation about the determined target article.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments searches for a target article by using a partial image.

According to an embodiment, a basic image may be comprised of aplurality of image parts. For example, when the target article is achair, the basic image may include an image of a back part 610, an imageof a seat part 620, and an image of a leg part 630. The image of theback part 610, the image of the seat part 620, and the image of the legpart 630 may be referred to as image parts of the basic image.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may split an image of thetarget article into a plurality of image parts according to a userinput. For example, when the target article is a chair, the device 100may split the image of the basic image into the image of the back part610, the image of the seat part 620, and the image of the leg part 630according to a user input.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may split the image ofthe target article into a plurality of image parts by using apredetermined method according to the type of the target article withouta user input. For example, when the target article is a chair, the imageof the target article may be previously determined to be split into theimage of the back part 610, the image of the seat part 620, and theimage of the leg part 630.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may store a plurality ofimages. Alternatively, the device 100 may acquire a plurality of imagesfrom a server and store the acquired plurality of images. The device 100may also store information about a plurality of articles.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may determine an articlecorresponding to the basic image. For example, the device 100 maydisplay a predetermined number of images for articles having similarshapes to the basic image.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may provide images 640, 650,660, and 670 of some articles from a 3D article list by using the imageparts 610, 620, and 630 of the basic image. According to a user input,one may be selected from the plurality of images. The device 100 maydetermine a selected image 640 as an image of the target article.

According to another embodiment, the device 100 may select one fromamong the plurality of images 640, 650, 660, and 670 without a userinput.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method in which the device 100 according tosome embodiments provides a GUI.

In operation S710, the device 100 may provide an image representing anoperation of a constituent article included in a target articleaccording to the function of the target article.

The constituent article included in the target article may operateaccording to the function of the target article. For example, the backof a chair which is the target article may be tilt at a predeterminedangle. As another example, a drawer which is a constituent article of adesk which is the target article may be repeatedly closed and open.

When a constituent article included in the target article operatesaccording to the function of the target article, the device 100 mayprovide an image representing the operation of the constituent article.For example, when a desk is the target article, the device 100 mayprovide an image for a case where the drawer of the desk is opened andan image for a case where the drawer of the desk is closed. As anotherexample, when a desk is the target article, the device 100 may providean opening operation of the drawer of the desk in the form of ananimation. As another example, when furniture is the target article, thedevice 100 may provide an opening or closing operation of the door ofthe furniture in the form of an animation.

In operation S720, the device 100 may provide a recommendation list ofconstituent articles that are compatible with the constituent articleincluded in the target article.

For example, when a desk is the target article, the device 100 maydisplay images of drawers that may be attached to the desk, which is thetarget article.

As another example, when a rocking chair is the target article, thedevice 100 may display chair back images that are compatible with therocking chair, which is the target article, and are exposed on theInternet by a predetermined reference number of times.

A detailed recommendation list providing method will be described laterwith reference to FIG. 8.

In operation S730, the device 100 may provide a recommendation list ofcompatible constituent articles based on the stability of the targetarticle.

Stability according to an embodiment may mean a value representing adegree to which a current shape or location of an article is maintainedwithout being deformed when an external force is applied to the article.Stability according to an embodiment may be determined based on at leastone of a location of the center of gravity of the target article editedby a constituent article included in the recommendation list and aninternal structure of the target article. For example, a height of thecenter of gravity of a desk edited by a chair back included in arecommendation list may serve as a criterion for determining thestability of the edited desk. As another example, a structure of anedited desk, such as the area of the ground that contacts the editeddesk, or the number of spots where the edited desk and the groundcontact, may be used as a criterion for determining the stability of theedited desk.

According to an embodiment, when the height of the center of gravity ofthe target article is a criterion for determining the stability of thetarget article, the height of the center of gravity of the targetarticle may be inversely proportional to the stability of the targetarticle.

According to another embodiment, when the area of the ground thatcontacts the target article is a criterion for determining the stabilityof the target article, the area of the ground that contacts the targetarticle may be proportional to the stability of the target article.

In operation S740, the device 100 may provide a recommendation list ofcompatible constituent articles, based on the prices of the compatibleconstituent articles.

For example, when the conditions of constituent articles other than theprice are the same, the device 100 may provide, as a recommendationlist, constituent articles of which prices are less than or equal to apredetermined reference. As another example, the device 100 may include,in the recommendation list, constituent articles of which prices areless than or equal to a predetermined reference or constituent articlesof which prices are equal to or greater than a predetermined reference,based on a user input.

In operation S750, the device 100 may provide a recommendation list ofcompatible constituent articles, based on the sizes of the compatibleconstituent articles.

For example, when the target article is a desk and a constituent articleincluded therein is a drawer attached to the desk, the device 100 mayinclude, in recommendation list, only drawers that are suitable for thesize of the drawer of the desk, which is the target article.

In operation S760, the device 100 may provide a recommendation list ofcompatible constituent articles, based on a connection relationshipbetween the target article and each constituent article included in thetarget article.

For example, the device 100 may include only constituent articlescompatible with the chair as the target article, in the recommendationlist. Constituent articles incompatible with the target article may beexcluded from the recommendation list.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments searches for constituent articles.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may determine a targetarticle, based on a user input such as a sketch input or a keywordinput. The device 100 may display at least one candidate image of thetarget article that is determined based on a sketch input or keywordinput of a user from among images of the determined target article.According to an embodiment, an image 830 of the target article may bedetermined from among the at least one candidate image of the targetarticle, based on a selection input of the user. According to anotherembodiment, the device 100 may determine the image 830 of the targetarticle as an image that is the most similar to a basic image from amongthe at least one candidate image of the target article.

The image 830 of the target article may be edited based on a user input.FIG. 8 describes a method of editing the image 830 of the targetarticle.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may provide a recommendationlist of constituent articles that are compatible with the constituentarticles included in the target article. According to an embodiment,when the target article is a chair, the device 100 may provide arecommendation list for a chair back which is a constituent article ofthe target article.

The device 100 may provide images of constituent articles found based onthe name of a constituent article input to a search box 810, and provideimages of constituent articles for an image part 820 selected from theimage 830 of the target article.

The device 100 may determine images 840, 850, and 860 from among imagesfor the constituent articles stored in the device 100 according to apredetermined criterion, and provide the determined images 840, 850, and860. A user may select one from among the provided images 840, 850, and860.

The device 100 may edit the image 830 of the target article by using theimage 850 selected based on a user input such as a touch input. An imageof an edited target article will be described later with reference toFIG. 10.

According to an embodiment, a keyword associated with the material,internal structure, or the like of a constituent article may be input tothe search box 810. For example, a keyword, such as wood, which is amaterial of the constituent article, an empty structure, which is aninternal structure of the constituent article, or a compact structure,which is an internal structure of the constituent article, may be inputto the search box 810. In this case, the device 100 may provide an imagefor the constituent article formed of the material input to the searchbox 810. For example, when a keyword “wooden chair back” is input to thesearch box 810, the device 100 may display some of results of a searchfor a wooden chair back.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments provides a description of a constituent article.

The device 100 may provide information about constituent articles thatconstitute a target article. For example, when the back of a chair isdetermined as a constituent article, the device 100 may display an imageof the chair back on a left screen 910 and a description of the chairback on a right screen 920. The description of the constituent articlemay include a name, a material, a price, a distributor, a weight, asize, and the like.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments displays an image 1020 of an edited target article.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, the device 100 may obtain the image 1020 ofthe edited target article by editing the image 830 of the target articleby using the image 850 of the constituent article determined based on auser input. The image 1020 of the edited target article may include theimage 850 of the constituent article determined based on the user input.For example, when a chair is the target article, an image of the back ofthe chair may be changed by a user selection. In this case, the image1020 of the edited target article having a changed chair back image maybe displayed.

The image 1020 of the edited target article may be changed via anadditional edition.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments determines a target article by selecting a plurality ofconstituent articles.

The device 100 may display constituent articles that constitute a targetarticle. For example, when the target article is a chair, the device 100may display a recommendation list of chair backs on an upper portion ofthe screen of the device 100, a recommendation list of seats on a middleportion thereof, and a recommendation list of leg parts on a lowerportion thereof. For example, images 1110, 1120, and 1130 of three chairbacks, images 1140, 1150, and 1160 of three seats, and images 1170,1180, and 1190 of three leg parts may be displayed.

The device 100 may receive a selection input with respect to displayedconstituent article images. For example, a first constituent articleimage 1110 and a second constituent article image 1160 may be selected.In this case, an image 1100 of a currently-being-edited target article,which is a combination of the first constituent article image 1110 withthe second constituent article image 1160, may be displayed. Accordingto an embodiment, the device 100 may acquire the image 1100 of thecurrently-being-edited target article by using images ofcurrently-selected constituent articles. Based on a user input ofselecting the first constituent article image 1110 and the secondconstituent article image 1160, the device 100 may generate the image1100 of the currently-being-edited target article.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments displays information about locations of joins betweenconstituent articles.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may store information about aconnection between constituent articles and display the information.

For example, when a target article is a chair, the device 100 may storeinformation about joins 1230 between a back part 1210 and a seat part1220 that constitute an edited target article. The display 100 maydisplay the joins 1230. In this case, the device 100 may visuallydeliver information about locations and areas of the joins 1230.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments recommends a constituent article according to standards.

The device 100 may display a constituent article 1320 desired to bechanged and a constituent article 1310 not being changed from amongconstituent articles that constitute a target article. For example, achair back 1320 may be changed. A recommendation list for theconstituent article 1320 desired to be changed may be displayed. Whenthe constituent article desired to be changed is a chair back, thedevice 100 according to an embodiment may display a small-size chairback 1330, a medium-size chair back 1340, and a large-size chair back1350. According to an embodiment, the device 100 may indicate that themedium-size chair back 1340 is recommended from among the displayedchair backs 1330, 1340, and 1350. According to an embodiment, the device100 may receive a selection input of selecting one image from among aplurality of displayed images.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method in which the device 100 according tosome embodiments displays information about stability of a targetarticle.

In operation S1410, the device 100 may display a description of theconstituent articles included in a target article.

Constituent articles according to an embodiment may denote articles thatconstitute a target article. According to an embodiment, the device 100may provide information about each of the constituent articles thatconstitute the target article. For example, the device 100 may display,on the screen thereof, a description of each of the constituent articlesincluded in the target article. A method of displaying a description ofeach constituent article has described above with reference to FIG. 9.

In operation S1420, the device 100 may display a method of assembling atarget article by using constituent articles included in the targetarticle.

An assembling method according to an embodiment may include anassembling sequence, a method of combining constituent articles with oneanother, and notes during assembly.

The assembling method according to an embodiment will be described laterin detail with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

In operation S1430, the device 100 may display information about thestability of the target article.

Stability according to an embodiment may mean a value representing adegree to which a current shape or location of an article is maintainedwithout being deformed when an external force is applied to the article.Stability according to an embodiment may be determined based on at leastone of a location of the center of gravity of the target article editedby a constituent article included in the recommendation list and aninternal structure of the target article. For example, a height of thecenter of gravity of a desk edited by a chair back included in arecommendation list may serve as a criterion for determining thestability of the edited desk. As another example, a structure of anedited desk, such as the area of the ground that contacts the editeddesk, or the number of spots where the edited desk and the groundcontact, may be used as a criterion for determining the stability of theedited desk.

An embodiment of displaying information about the stability of a targetarticle will be described later with reference to FIG. 17.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments provides an assembling method.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may display an image of atarget article on a left screen 1510 and may display on a right screen1520 a method of assembling the target article.

For example, the device 100 may provide a description of the assemblingmethod via the right screen 1520. According to an embodiment, the device100 may display a manual that explains the method of assembling thetarget article by using constituent articles.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments provides an assembling method.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may display an image of atarget article on a left screen 1610 and may display on a right screen1620 a method of assembling the target article.

For example, the device 100 may provide an image or animation of theassembling method via the right screen 1620.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may display an image oranimation that sequentially explains the method of assembling the targetarticle by using constituent articles. For example, when the targetarticle is a chair, the device 100 according to an embodiment maydescribe a method of attaching a chair back to a seating plate by usingan image or animation.

FIG. 17A illustrates an example in which the device 100 according tosome embodiments provides information about the stability of a targetarticle.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may display an image of thetarget article on a left screen 1710 and may display information aboutthe stability on a right screen 1720.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may display, on the rightscreen 1720, information about the stability of the target articledisplayed on the left screen 1710. For example, the right screen 1720may display at least one of information about a weight of the targetarticle, information about the size of the target article, informationabout the stability of the target article, and information about alocation of the center of gravity of the target article.

For example, in FIG. 17A, the target article is a chair with four legs,and the stability of the target article is 92%.

FIG. 17B illustrates an example in which the device 100 according tosome embodiments provides information about the stability of a targetarticle.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may display an image of thetarget article on a left screen 1730 and may display information aboutthe stability on a right screen 1740.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may display, on the rightscreen 1730, information about the stability of the target articledisplayed on the left screen 1740. For example, the right screen 1740may display at least one of information about a weight of the targetarticle, information about the size of the target article, informationabout the stability of the target article, and information about alocation of the center of gravity of the target article.

For example, in FIG. 17B, the target article is a chair with three legs,and the stability of the target article is 12%. In this case, the device100 shows that the target article is not stable.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments provides options for a target article.

The device 100 may provide images 1820 and 1830 obtained by changing thecolor of an image 1810 of the target article. For example, the device100 may display the images 1820 and 1830 having the same shapes as thetarget article but having different colors from the target article. Inthis case, the colors of the images 1820 and 1830 displayed as arecommendation list may be colors that are used a predeterminedreference number of times or more.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments provides information about joins between constituentarticles.

According to an embodiment, the device 100 may provide the informationabout joins between constituent articles. For example, when a targetarticle is a chair, the device 100 may display joins 1945 between achair back 1930 and a seat 1940 on a left screen 1910. As anotherexample, the device 100 may display joins 1950 between the seat 1940 andlegs 1960 on a right screen 1920.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments provides information about constituent articles.

According to an embodiment, when a target article is a chair, the device100 may provide information about a chair back part, a seat part, and aleg part which are constituent articles of a target article.

For example, the device 100 may display a chair back image on a leftupper portion of the screen of the device 100 and may displayinformation about a chair back on a right upper portion of the screen.The information about the chair back may include at least one of aweight of the chair back, a size thereof, a material thereof, and aprice thereof.

As another example, the device 100 may display an image of a seat parton a left middle portion 2020 of the screen and may display informationabout the seat part on a right middle portion 2050 of the screen. Theinformation about the seat part may include at least one of a weight ofthe seat part, a size thereof, a material thereof, and a price thereof.

As another example, the device 100 may display an image of a chair legpart on a left lower portion 2030 of the screen and may displayinformation about the chair leg part on a right lower portion 2060 ofthe screen. The information about the chair leg part may include atleast one of a weight of the chair leg part, a size thereof, a materialthereof, and a price thereof.

FIG. 21 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments provides a method of assembling constituent articles.

A method in which the device 100 displays joins between constituentarticles, according to an embodiment, has been described above withreference to FIG. 19.

A method in which the device 100 displays joins between constituentarticles, according to another embodiment, will now be described withreference to FIG. 21. A target article according to an embodiment may bea chair.

For example, the device 100 may provide a method of assembling a chairback part and a seat part which are constituent articles, on a leftscreen 2110. The assembling method may be provided in the form of animage or animation.

As another example, the device 100 may provide a method of assembling aseat part and a chair leg part which are constituent articles, on aright screen 2120. The assembling method may be provided in the form ofan image or animation.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example in which the device 100 according to someembodiments provides information about operations of constituentarticles that constitute a target article.

The constituent articles that constitute the target article may operateaccording to the functions of the constituent articles. For example,when the target article is a piece of furniture, a drawer which is aconstituent article of the furniture may be opened or closed.

According to an embodiment, when the target article is a chair, thedevice 100 may display operations of the constituent articles of thetarget article. According to an embodiment, the device 100 may displayoperable ranges of the constituent articles.

For example, the device 100 may display, on a left screen 2210, an imageor animation representing that a wheel part of the chair, which is thetarget article, is turning.

As another example, the device 100 may display, on a right screen 2220,an image or animation representing that a back part of the chair, whichis the target article, is tilt. According to an embodiment, the device100 may also display a tiltable angle of the back part, when displayingtilting of the back part.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a structure of the device 100 according tosome embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 23, the device 100 may include an input unit 2310, adatabase (DB) 2320, a controller 2330, a display 2340, and acommunicator 2350.

The device 100 may be implemented by more or less than the componentsillustrated in FIG. 23.

The aforementioned components will now be described in detail.

The user unit 2310 may receive a user input. A user input according toan embodiment may be used to generate printing information. For example,the device 100 may acquire a basic image by using the user input andgenerate printing information by using the acquired basic image.According to an embodiment, the basic image may denote an image acquiredvia a user input for acquiring an image.

For example, the device 100 may acquire the basic image via a user inputacquired by performing a sketch via a touch on a screen where a touchinput is possible. As another example, the device 100 may acquire thebasic image by recognizing a sketching operation of a user. As anotherexample, a desk image captured according to a user input of performingphotography may be a basic image. As another example, a chair imagedownloaded from a server according to a user input may be a basic image.The DB 2320 may store a 3D article list acquired from the server 110.The 3D article list may include information about a plurality of 3Darticles.

According to an embodiment, the DB 2320 may store the 3D article list.For example, the DB 2320 may acquire information about 3D articles fromthe server 110 and store the acquired information. The information aboutthe 3D articles may include information related with the 3D articles,such as images of the 3D articles and names of the 3D articles.

According to another embodiment, the DB 2320 may store information aboutthe target article and information about connection relationshipsbetween the constituent articles included in the target article. Theconstituent articles may denote articles that constitute the targetarticle. For example, since a chair may be formed of a chair back, aseat, and legs, the chair, which is a target article, may be formed ofconstituent articles which are the chair back, the seat, and the legs.In this case, the DB 2320 may store information about a relationshipbetween the chair back and the seat and a relationship between the seatand the legs.

According to another embodiment, the DB 2320 may store weightinformation of the constituent articles included in the target article.For example, the DB 2320 may store respective weights of the constituentarticles of the target article with preset accuracy. The preset accuracymay vary according to settings.

According to another embodiment, the DB 2320 may store information aboutat least one of directions and ranges in which the constituent articlesincluded in the target article respectively move according to thefunction of the target article. For example, information about an angleat which the back of the chair is tilt may stored in the DB 2320.

According to another embodiment, the DB 2320 may store information aboutthe constituent articles included in each of the 3D articles stored inthe device 100.

For example, the device 100 may index each of the constituent articles.In this case, the DB 2320 may store a result of the indexing.

As another example, the DB 2320 may store information about joinsbetween the constituent articles. According to an embodiment, when thetarget article is a chair, the DB 2320 may store information about ajoin between a chair back and a seat of the chair. The device 100 maydisplay the information about the joins. A method of displaying theinformation about the joins has been described above with reference toFIG. 12.

As another example, the DB 2320 may store information about operationsof the constituent articles included in the target article. The meaningof the information about the operations of the constituent articles hasbeen described above with reference to FIG. 22.

As another example, the DB 2320 may store information related with amethod of assembling the target article by using the constituentarticles. The information related with the assembling method has beendescribed above with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

The controller 2330 may control the input unit 2310, the DB 2320, thedisplay 2340, and the communicator 2350.

According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may determine a targetarticle. For example, the controller 2330 may determine a target articlecorresponding to the basic image from the 3D article list stored in theDB 2320. The meaning of the target article corresponding to the basicimage has already been described above with reference to FIG. 1.

According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may use image parts whendetermining the target article. The image parts may mean a plurality ofimage parts into which an image is split. For example, when the basicimage is a chair image, a chair back image, a seat image, and a chairleg image into which a chair image is split may be image parts for thebasic image.

According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may use the image partsof the basic image when determining the target article corresponding tothe basic image from the 3D article list. For example, the controller2330 may split the basic image into a plurality of image parts and animage of each of the 3D articles included in the 3D article list into aplurality of image parts according to a predetermined criterion andcompare the image parts of the basic image with the image parts of eachof the 3D articles, thereby determining the target article correspondingto the basic image. For example, when the controller 2330 acquires afirst image and a second image by splitting the basic image, acquires a(1-1)th image and a (1-2)th image by splitting a first 3D article, andacquires a (2-1)th image and a (2-2)th image by splitting a second 3Darticle, the controller 2330 may compare the first image with the(1-1)th image, the second image with the (1-2)th image, the first imagewith the (2-1)th image, and the second image with the (2-2)th image andthus may determine the target article corresponding to the basic imagefrom among the first 3D article and the second 3D article.

According to another embodiment, the controller 2330 may provide aselection menu for selecting an image corresponding to the basic imagefrom the images of the 3D articles included in the 3D article list. Forexample, the controller 2330 may display a predetermined number ofimages that are similar to the basic image from among the images of the3D articles included in the 3D article list. Similarities between theimages of the 3D articles and the basic image may be determinedaccording to a predetermined manner. For example, the controller 2330may determine similarities between the images of the 3D articles and thebasic image, by using the above-described image parts.

According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may receive a selectioninput with respect to one of the displayed images of the 3D articles anddetermine the selected 3D article image as an image of the targetarticle.

The basic image and the image of the target article may share similarfeatures.

According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may provide a GUIcapable of editing the shape of the target article. According to anembodiment, the controller 2330 may provide a GUI capable of editing theshape of the target article according to a user input.

According to another embodiment, the GUI of the controller 2330 mayprovide an edition menu for editing a specific part of the basic image.The shape of the target article may be edited based on a user input viathe GUI.

According to another embodiment, the controller 2330 may provide arecommendation list of constituent articles that are compatible with theconstituent articles included in the target article. For example, whenthe target article is a chair, the controller 2330 may provide arecommendation list of a chair back which is a constituent articleincluded in the chair. In this case, a chair back from among a pluralityof displayed back chairs may be determined based on a user input. Forexample, a chair back image from among a plurality of displayed chairback images may be selected according to a selection input of a user.

The controller 2330 may provide the recommendation list according to apredetermined criterion. For example, the controller 2330 may providethe recommendation list of compatible constituent articles, based onstability of the target article edited by the constituent articlesincluded in the recommendation list. The target article edited by theconstituent articles included in the recommendation list may mean atarget article that has been edited to include one of the constituentarticles included in the recommendation list as a component of thetarget article.

Stability of an article according to an embodiment may mean a valuerepresenting a degree to which the shape or location of the article ismaintained without being deformed when an external force is applied tothe article.

When a constituent article included in the recommendation list is usedas a constituent article of the target article, stability of the targetarticle may be maintained to a predetermined reference or greater. Forexample when the controller 2330 provides a recommendation list forwooden legs which are a constituent article of an office chair, which isa target article, the controller 2330 may include only wooden legs ofwhich stability is equal to or greater than a predetermined referencewhen being used in the office chair, which is the target article, in therecommendation list. Stability of the office chair edited by wooden legsincluded in the recommendation list may be maintained to a predeterminedreference or greater. The office chair edited by the wooden legs, whichare a constituent article included in the recommendation list, may meanan office chair including the wooden legs, which are a constituentarticle included in the recommendation list, as the constituent article.Stability of an edited target article according to an embodiment may bedetermined based on at least one of a location of the center of gravityof the target article edited by a constituent article included in arecommendation list and an internal structure of the target article. Forexample, a height of the center of gravity of a desk edited by a chairback included in a recommendation list may serve as a criterion fordetermining the stability of the edited desk. As another example, astructure of an edited desk, such as the area of the ground thatcontacts the edited desk, or the number of spots where the edited deskand the ground contact, may be used as a criterion for determining thestability of the edited desk.

According to another embodiment, the controller 2330 may provide arecommendation list of compatible constituent articles, based on theprices of the compatible constituent articles. For example, when theconditions of constituent articles other than the price are the same,the controller 2330 may provide, as a recommendation list, constituentarticles of which prices are less than or equal to a predeterminedreference. As another example, the controller 2330 may include, in therecommendation list, constituent articles of which prices are less thanor equal to a predetermined reference or constituent articles of whichprices are equal to or greater than a predetermined reference, based ona user input.

According to another embodiment, the controller 2330 may provide arecommendation list of compatible constituent articles, based on thesizes of the compatible constituent articles. For example, when thetarget article is a desk and a constituent article included therein is adrawer attached to the desk, the controller 2330 may include, in arecommendation list, only drawers of which sizes are compatible with thesize of the drawer of the desk which is the target article.

According to another embodiment, the controller 2330 may provide arecommendation list of compatible constituent articles, based on aconnection relationship between the target article and each constituentarticle included in the target article. For example, the controller 2330may include only constituent articles connectable to the chair, which isthe target article, in a recommendation list. Constituent articlesunable to be connected with the target article may be excluded from therecommendation list. For example, when the target article is a chair towhich only wooden legs are connectable, only wooden leg types may beincluded in the recommendation list of constituent articles.

According to another embodiment, the controller 2330 may provide animage representing an operation of a constituent article included in thetarget article according to the function of the target article.

For example, the controller 2330 may provide an image representing anopening or closing operation of the drawer of a desk, which is a targetarticle. As another example, the controller 2330 may provide an imagerepresenting a tilting operation of the drawer of the chair, which isthe target article.

According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may edit the shape ofthe target article, based on a user input via the GUI. For example, thecontroller 2330 may replace a constituent article included in the targetarticle, based on a user input. As another example, the controller 2330may change the color of the target article.

A detailed editing method has been described above with reference toFIGS. 7-17B.

According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may generate 3D printinginformation. According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may editthe shape of the target article, based on a user input via the GUI, andmay generate printing information for 3D printing the edited targetarticle.

According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may generate printinginformation used to 3D print the edited target article. A 3D printerconnected to the device 100 may 3D print the edited target article byusing the printing information acquired by the device 100. Thecontroller 2330 may generate printing information that is necessary forperforming 3D printing on the edited target article. The controller 2330may transmit the generated printing information to the 3D printer.

According to an embodiment, the controller 2330 may generate manualinformation representing a method of assembling the edited targetarticle. For example, the controller 2330 may provide the manualinformation in the form of at least one of a text and an animation.

The display 2340 may display various types of screen images.

Various types of screen images displayed in connection with an operationof the device 100 may be displayed via the display 2340.

For example, the display 2340 may display a basic image acquired using auser input, an image acquired from a server, a GUI image, a descriptionof a constituent article, an image of an edited target article,information about locations of joins between constituent articles, arecommendation list of the constituent article, information aboutstability of the target article, a method of assembling the targetarticle, options for the target article, and information about anoperation of the constituent article.

The communicator 2350 may transmit the printing information used to 3Dprint the edited target article. The printing information is used toperform printing. The printing information may be generated by thedevice 100 and transmitted to a 3D printer.

The present invention can also be embodied as a storage medium includinginstruction codes executable by a computer such as a program moduleexecuted by the computer. A computer readable medium can be any usablemedium which can be accessed by the computer and includes allvolatile/non-volatile and removable/non-removable media. Further, thecomputer readable medium may include all computer storage andcommunication media. The computer storage medium includes allvolatile/non-volatile and removable/non-removable media embodied by acertain method or technology for storing information such as computerreadable instruction code, a data structure, a program module or otherdata. The communication medium typically includes the computer readableinstruction code, the data structure, the program module, or other dataof a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave, or other transmissionmechanism, and includes any information transmission medium.

The terminology “unit” used herein may be a hardware component such as aprocessor or a circuit, and/or a software component that is executed bya hardware component such as a processor.

The exemplary embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense onlyand not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspectswithin each embodiment should typically be considered as available forother similar features or aspects in other embodiments.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of generating printing informationby a device, the method comprising: obtaining, by a controller of thedevice, an image by recognizing a sketch input via a touch on a screenof a display included in the device; obtaining, by the controller, aplurality of constituent article images by splitting the obtained imagebased on a predetermined criterion according to a type of an articleincluded in the obtained image, the plurality of constituent articleimages indicating images corresponding to constituent articles of thearticle included in the obtained image; determining, by the controller,a plurality of target article images having a similar shape to theobtained image from a three-dimensional (3D) article list stored in adatabase (DB) of the device by comparing the constituent article imagesof the obtained image with constituent article images of each of each of3D articles included in the 3D article list; controlling, by thecontroller, the display to display the plurality of target articleimages having the similar shape to the obtained image; receiving, via areceiver of the device, a user input selecting one from the plurality oftarget article images; determining, by the controller, a target articleimage in response to receiving of the user input; controlling, by thecontroller, the display to display information related to a plurality ofconstituent articles included in the determined target article image;editing, by the controller, a shape of the determined target articleimage, based on a user input selecting the displayed information relatedto the plurality of constituent articles included in the determinedtarget article image; controlling, by the controller, the display todisplay a target article image edited during the editing of the shape ofthe determined target article image; generating printing informationused to 3D print the edited target article image; and transmitting, viaa communicator of the device, by the controller, the generated printinginformation to a 3D printer.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theinformation related to the plurality of constituent articles comprises arecommendation list of constituent articles that are compatible with aconstituent article included in the target article.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the compatible constituent articles are based onstability of a target article edited by a constituent article includedin the recommendation list.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein thestability is determined based on at least one of a location of a centerof gravity of the target article edited by the constituent articleincluded in the recommendation list or an internal structure of theedited target article.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the compatibleconstituent articles are based on prices of the compatible constituentarticles.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the compatible constituentarticles are based on sizes of the compatible constituent articles. 7.The method of claim 2, wherein the compatible constituent articles arebased on a connection relationship between the target article and theconstituent article included in the target article.
 8. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the information related to the plurality of constituentarticles comprises weight information of the constituent articleincluded in the target article.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein theinformation related to the plurality of constituent articles comprisesinformation about at least one of a direction or a range in which theconstituent article included in the target article moves according to afunction of the target article.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein thegenerated printing information comprises manual information representinga method of assembling the edited target article.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the manual information is in at least one of a textform and an animation form.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein theinformation related to the plurality of constituent articles comprisesan image representing an operation of a constituent article included inthe target article according to a function of the target article. 13.The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the pluralityof constituent articles comprises a connection relationship between thetarget article and a constituent article included in the target article.14. A device for generating printing information, the device comprising:a receiver configured to receive a user input; a DB configured to storea 3D article list; a display; a communicator; and a controllerconfigured to: obtain an image by recognizing a sketch input via a touchon a screen of the display, obtain a plurality of constituent articleimages by splitting the obtained image based on a predeterminedcriterion according to a type of an article included in the obtainedimage, the plurality of constituent article images indicating imagescorresponding to constituent articles of the article included in theobtained image, determine a plurality of target article images having asimilar shape to the obtained image from a 3D article list stored in theDB by comparing the constituent article images of the obtained imagewith constituent article images of each of 3D articles included in the3D article list, control the display to display the plurality of targetarticle images having the similar shape to the obtained image, receive,via the receiver, a user input selecting one from the plurality oftarget article images, determine a target article image in response toreceiving of the user input, control the display to display informationrelated to a plurality of constituent articles included in thedetermined target article image, edit a shape of the determined targetarticle image, based on a user input selecting the displayed informationrelated to the plurality of constituent articles included in thedetermined target article image, control the display to display a targetarticle image edited during the editing of the shape of the determinedtarget article image, generate printing information used to 3D print theedited target article image, and transmit, via the communicator, thegenerated printing information to a 3D printer.
 15. The device of claim14, wherein the information related to a plurality of constituentarticles comprises a recommendation list of constituent articles thatare compatible with a constituent article included in the targetarticle.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the compatible constituentarticles are based on stability of the target article.
 17. The device ofclaim 15, wherein the compatible constituent articles are based on sizesof the compatible constituent articles.
 18. The device of claim 14,wherein the generated printed information comprises manual informationrepresenting a method of assembling the edited target article.
 19. Anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recordedthereon a program which, when executed by a processor of a device forgenerating printing information by the device, causes the device to:obtain, by a controller of the device, an image by recognizing a sketchinput via a touch on a screen of a display included in the device;obtain, by the controller, a plurality of constituent article images bysplitting the obtained image based on a predetermined criterionaccording to a type of an article included in the obtained image, theplurality of constituent article images indicating images correspondingto constituent articles of the article included in the obtained image;determine, by the controller, a plurality of target article imageshaving a similar shape to the obtained image from a three-dimensional(3D) article list stored in a database (DB) of the device by comparingthe constituent article images of the obtained image with constituentarticle images of each of 3D articles included in the 3D article list;control, by the controller, the display to display the plurality oftarget article images having the similar shape to the obtained image;receive, via a receiver of the device, by the controller, a user inputselecting one from the plurality of target article images; determine, bythe controller, a target article image in response to receiving of theuser input; control, by the controller, the display to displayinformation related to a plurality of constituent articles included inthe determined target article image; edit, by the controller, a shape ofthe determined target article image, based on a user input selecting thedisplayed information related to the plurality of constituent articlesincluded in the determined target article image; control, by thecontroller, the display to display a target article image edited duringthe editing of the shape of the determined target article image;generate printing information used to 3D print the edited target articleimage; and transmit, via a communicator of the device, by thecontroller, the generated printing information to a 3D printer.